KHYBER: The participants of a literary session here on Sunday demanded of the provincial government to set up a complex at the mausoleum of Pashto poet Khatir Afridi.

The event was held in Jamrud to pay tributes to renowned Pashtp poet Misri Khan Khatir Afridi.

Speakers said on the occasion that Khatir Afridi was known as a great poet not only among the literary circles of Khyber but he was respected by all Pakhtuns.

They said that the late poet, who died young due to lungs illness, penned down high quality poetry in extremely simple words that was understandable by all segments of the Pakhtun society.

“His poetry is full of love and romance along with heartfelt pain and frustration,” said Prof Aslam Taseer. He said that Khatir Afridi was very popular among Pakhtuns for his simple and attractive poetry. He added that his poetry appealed even illiterate Pakhtuns.

Riaz Afridi, secretary general of Jamrud Pakhto Adabi Leekwal, said that the purpose of organising the session in the memory of Khatir Afridi was to highlight his valuable contribution to Pakhto literature.

He said that it was the responsibility of poets and writers to spread among the young people the positive messages of legendary poets like Khatir Afridi.

Firaq Afridi, a young poet from Bara, said that youth were forgetting legendary literary figures and it was necessary to arrange such gatherings to remember them in befitting manner.

The participants through a unanimous resolution demanded of the provincial government to construct a complex at the mausoleum of Khatir Afridi in Landi Kotal to facilitate local poets and writers to arrange such gatherings there.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2022